Match-box.



F. G. HOLKUM.

' MATCH BOX.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 10, 1911.

P W. F W

COLUMBIA PLANOQRAPH co., WASHlNGl'ONpD. C.

I of the invent1on.-

FREDERICK C. HOLKUM, 0F IPOCAI-IONTAS, ILLINOIS.

MATCH-BOX.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed May 10, 1911. Serial No. 626,211.

To all whom it may concern: 7

Be it known that I, FREDERICK C. I-IoL- KUM, a citizen of the United States, residing at Pocahontas, in the county of Bond and State of Illinois, have invented new and useful Improvements in Match Boxes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to match boxes, and has for an object to provide dispensing means therefor, whereby a single match can be discharged from the box and conveyed to a presenting trough where it can be conveniently grasped by the operator.

In the drawing, forming a portion of this specification and in which like numerals of reference indicate similar parts in the several views :Figure 1 is a front View of the box. Fig. 2 is a section therethrough on the line 22 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a View similar to Fig. 2 showing a slightly modified form Upon reference to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawing, it will be seen that the box 1 cmbodies a casing 2 having a front wall 3, a rear wall 4, a top 5 and end walls 6, the wall 4: having a filling opening therein by means of which the casing can be filled with matches. This opening is closed by a suit able cover 7. w

The match dispensing or feeding means includes a shaft 8 which is j ournaled in the end walls of the casing, one end of said shaft being provided with a manipulating knob 9. Spaced disks 10 are secured to the shaft, and as illustrated, each disk has peripheral notches 11 therein, the notches of one disk being disposed in line with the notches of the adjacent companion disk. A combined dividing and directing member 12 is located in the casing, being preferably of concavo-convex form, and concentrically arranged with respect to the disks 10 and suitably spaced therefrom to permit the disks to be freely rotated in either direction. This member has its opposite side walls 12 extending downwardly toward the bottom of the casing and then inwardly, at 13, toward the shaft 8 to form deflecting surfaces to guide the matches into the receiving notches of the disks 10. The front and rear walls 8 and 4: of the casing have portions 14 which are inclined inwardly and which terminate beneath the deflecting surfaces 13 of the member 12 to assist inthe function of the said surfaces toward providing a perfect feed of the matches to the dispensing device.

The casing l is provided with a relatively heavy base 15 which is formed on its upper surface to provide a delivering trough or gutter 16, the wall 17 of which being in clined upwardly and rearwardly and extended directly into the wall 4 of the casing. The trough is located in advance of the terminal 18 of the wall 2 of the casing, and said terminal being associated with respect to the trough to form therefor a guide to direct the matches onto the wall 17 in other words the side walls of the groove are disposed snbstantially tangential to the shaft 8. The terminal 18 and the wall 17 define the match discharge passage 19, and asshown, said passage is located directly beneath the Patented Mar. 26, 1912.

axis of the dispensing or delivering device.

The member 12 is provided on its upper surface at the center with a relatively sharp dividing edge 20 which operates to split the batch of matches to cause parts of the batch to be moved toward the opposite sides of the casing. The notches 11 are substantially of dovetail configuration, so that each notch is of a gradually inwardly increasing diameter presenting retaining projections 11 to hold the match against accidental escape from the notch on movement of the feeder to discharge the match and to guard the match against frictional contact with the walls of the casing to prevent the ignition thereof through frictional contact. In view thereof, the tendency of the match is to roll into the corners of the grooves so as to be held in the slots against any possible frictional engagement with the walls of the casing. The front of the base 15 is provided with a suitable match striking surface 21.

In the modified form of the invention shown in Fig. 3, the base shown in the preferred form is omitted, and in lieu thereof, the wall 22 is extended downwardly, at 23, and then outwardly, at 2 1, to provide a receiving trough 25, the portion 24 being provided with a striking surface 26. In this form of the invention, the casing carries a wall engaging bracket 27.

I claim: g

A match box comprising a casing having a discharge opening therein,-a feeder located in the casing and including a revolubly mounted shaft provided with a member thereon having a peripheral groove therein tional contact with the walls of the casing 10 of an inwardly increasing diameter so that to prevent the ignition thereof through fricthe side Walls of the groove lie substantially tional contact with the Walls.

tangential to the shaft to permit the match In testimony whereof I afiiX my signature to gravitate thereon to the lowermost corner in presence of two witnesses.

of the groove whereby the match is held FREDERICK C. HOLKUM. against accidental escape from the groove WVitnesses:

on movement of the feeder to discharge the GEORGE L. SANNER,

match and to guard the match against fric- PERRY R. WALL.

Uopies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. G. 

